The Great Adventure of Prayer

We’re beginning a new Wednesday night Bible study series on prayer and it’s based on the book by David Jeremiah, Prayer, the Great Adventure. We’ve been talking a lot about the theme of “Search & Rescue” as the missional focus of our church in a lost culture, and prayer is the power-giving foundation of being missional, so we’re going to use our midweek adult Bible studies to strengthen this area of our church family’s life.

The first week is all about the “great adventure of prayer” and is based on Matthew 7:7-11. Here are some brief thoughts I’ll be sharing tonight…

There are a lot of different ideas about what prayer is. It gets defined in mystical terms, or it’s transformed into a domestic intercom to call God to cater to our every whim. But prayer is really a weapon for warfare. It’s a conversational life with God and an adventure to be lived.

Prayer Is Comprehensive

It’s for everyone, and it’s for everything. There’s nothing we can’t or shouldn’t pray about in the realm of our daily living and decision-making. It isn’t just for the priesthood or the professionals, it’s for everybody.

Prayer Is Certain

God wants to answer prayer, and He wants to answer prayer specifically.

When the request is not right, God says, “No.” When the timing is not right, God says, “Slow.” When you are not right, God says, “Grow.” And when the request is right, the timing is right, and you are right, God says, “Go.” ~ Bill Hybels, Too Busy Not to Pray

We Should Pray Personally

Corporate prayer is encouraging, but personal prayer is what makes the difference in our lives. Prayer is to be a part of my personal relationship and walk with God. It’s the conversation that draws me closer to God.

We Should Pray Particularly

In other words, we can get specific. David Jeremiah says that often when God wants to give us a fish, we’re asking for a serpent and when He wants to give us bread, we’re asking for a stone. We need to learn to pray for specifically what God wants us to pray for.

We Should Pray Persistently

The verbs in verse 8 are continuous in nature. He who keeps on asking, keeps on seeking, and keeps on knocking… for that person, prayer will be answered. This isn’t to be mistaken for begging or groveling, but rather for keeping our minds focused on God’s will persistently.

What is your prayer life like today? Maybe this is a great time to get jump-started into a life of prayer again.